The throwaway Bob Dylan song that proves his genius
Given how much of an influence Bob Dylan has become within not just the world of songwriting but also art, literature, and poetry in general, it’s baffling to think that when he first began performing, he was hardly writing anything.
“[I’ve been travellin’ the country, follwin’ in Woody Guthrie’s footsteps.” These were Dylan’s words to one of the first crowds he played in front of when he headed to New York. Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, the folk singer had always been an outcast, and so decided to hop on a bus and travel to a land that he thought might understand him a little better.
When he eventually arrived in New York, he started making a name for himself as a great up-and-comer within the world of folk music. He was playing songs by the man whose footsteps he confessed to walking in, Woody Guthrie, and then another range of great folk tunes. His unique vocal tone and ability to capture the attention of a room meant that ears were pricked from the first note, but it wasn’t until he actually started writing music that people saw his real potential.
A lot of people write lyrics because they know, as a general rule, that lyrics are usually contained within songs, but that’s not the point. Lyrics aren’t just a necessary filler; they should elevate a track, and give the listener a deeper insight not only into the person who wrote them, but themselves.
It was the latter part of that statement which got Bruce Springsteen so hooked on Dylan’s music, and which also influenced him as a songwriter. “I want people to get the same experience from listening to one of my records as I had when I listened to Highway 61 Revisited,” explained The Boss, “The idea that something was revealed to them that was fundamentally true and essential, and gave you a view of your world, your country, your town, your neighbours, your family.”
It’s not only Springsteen who has been influenced by Dylan, in music new and old, but you can also hear his impact. It’s astonishing just how much his talent reverberates throughout the musical world, and it seems you can’t turn a lyrical corner without stumbling upon something that has been somewhat influenced by Dylan. His genius can be heard in every single song he released… and even the ones he didn’t.
In 1966, when Dylan was on tour, he found himself in the midst of controversy, which most people agree was because of his decision to abandon those original folk routes that followed him to New York and instead embrace a more electric sound. Some crowds didn’t quite take to this creative endeavour (need I remind you of the “Judas” incident), but Bob Dylan was happy with this different direction. The change in pace saw him play with Robbie Robertson, who would eventually front The Band.
Despite coming under a fair bit of heat on tour, the music never left Dylan or Robertson, who, even in their downtime, would put different songs together, even if they weren’t for public consumption. This is what happened with the track ‘I Can’t Leave Her Behind’, a song that Dylan and Robertson played sporadically on the ‘66 tour but never actually intended on releasing. It remained a forgotten gem in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to see the groundbreaking folk artist in person until one fan decided to create a listenable version of the track.
The documentarian DA Pennebaker was travelling with Dylan and Robertson while they were on tour, capturing every second in the hope of putting it together in a documentary entitled Something is Happening. It was never made, but some of his coverage did make it into Eat the Document. Bootleg versions of his recordings eventually made their way into the always-excited-for-new-music universe that is the Dylan fandom, which included a performance of ‘I Can’t Leave Her Behind’.
A man called Swingin’ Pig eventually put together a listenable version of the track in June 2021, but until then, it hadn’t properly been heard by Dylan fans. What sort of genius mind does that New York runaway have that a song of such quality is considered a throwaway?
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